Partners PR Directors Karen Tinkler and Monica Green have been appointed as expert coaches for the newly launched Good Growth Programme 2, following the success of their involvement in the original £1.5 million Good Growth Fund.

The new £750,000 initiative, managed by Oxford Innovation and funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, aims to accelerate growth across West Yorkshire’s most ambitious small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Over the next 12 months, the programme will provide strategic support to businesses across the county including Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds, Kirklees and Wakefield – with the goal of helping to create 144 new jobs by March 2026.

Karen and Monica will once again bring their extensive PR and communications expertise to the table, working closely with high-potential businesses to increase brand awareness and achieve that all-important visibility among the right people to help their business grow. 

Eligible businesses will receive £5,000 worth of tailored support for just £550, delivering a ten-fold return on investment.

Karen Tinkler said: “Our Partners Pathfinder bespoke workshop was very popular during the first phase of funding.  We work with business leaders to develop a PR and communications strategy and plan, helping them to identify target audiences, craft strong messaging and discover creative ways to engage with customers and other stakeholders.  Alongside the Pathfinder service, we are also offering our new Peoplefinder, which is designed to help businesses that are struggling to attract the talent essential for realising growth ambitions.”

Zac Barker at MyPump Solutions said: “The Pathfinder has been a game-changer, opening our eyes to new opportunities and helping us understand the marketing landscape in ways we wouldn’t have done on our own. Working with Partners PR was insightful and energising - we could have brainstormed for hours, which is always a good sign.

“It has identified short term activities which we can develop straight away and then has also given us longer term actions which we can implement when we’re at the right stage. We’d highly recommend Partners PR to any business looking for a clear strategy to raise brand awareness and stand out in their industry.”

The Good Growth Programme 2 builds on the achievements of the original fund, which supported 270 businesses and created 251 jobs across the region in just 15 months. The second phase focuses on SMEs turning over at least £100,000 annually and trading for a minimum of one year, with 80% of support targeted towards West Yorkshire’s High Growth Clusters, including Emerging Tech, Green Economy, and Advanced Manufacturing.

Delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice and backed by the Mayor of West Yorkshire, the programme also includes access to five masterclasses in key growth areas: marketing, people & skills, finance, net zero, and digitalisation. Each participant is assigned a dedicated Client Manager and begins the journey with a simple online registration and growth diagnostic.

To find out more about the Good Growth Programme and/or to register an interest in participating, go to www.wygoodgrowth.co.uk. Alternatively, contact us and we’ll put you in touch with the right people.